The California State Floral Association (CSFA) and the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) are pleased to announce Legislative Action Day 2012.  The breakfast program will feature keynote speakers from the California Legislature.  Kasey Cronquist, Executive Director/Ambassador, California Cut Flower Commission, Chris Zanobini, AAMSI President, and Kent Woodward, ARM, State Compensation Insurance Fund will also speak at our breakfast.  CSFA legislative advocates, Dennis Albiani and Debbie Murdock, will present the Governmental Relations Primer:  Issues and Orientation.  This year's event Co-Chaired by Allan Nishita and Marty Espe, Flora Fresh, Inc. will be held in conjunction with California Agriculture Day.  Over 2500 people are expected to stroll the Capitol grounds and participate in an array of activities, including food sampling and educational exhibits.

Members will have an opportunity to meet with their respective Legislators to voice concerns and talk about important issues facing the floral industry.  Come and share in the excitement at the Capitol.  The day will include a legislative breakfast at the Sutter Club.  Floral bouquets will be delivered to every legislative office along with our information packet outlining critical issues of concern to our industry.  For more information and to register call the CSFA office at 916-448-5266.

• Schedule of Events
• LAD Sponsor Form
• LAD Registration Form  

What is the one word AIFD is using to describe the upcoming 2012 Symposium being held in Miami, Fla.? HOT! Hot designs...hot events...hot inspiration. From July 12-16, 2012 the leading floral designers in the world will take over the Hyatt Regency and show Miami something it's never seen before. You don't want to miss being a part of this event that is sure to make the record books. So, don't wait...register today! 

Calling for an "all-of-the-above" energy plan, House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R, OK) this week challenged President Obama to join House Republicans in pushing for a national energy policy that reduces costs for farmers and ranchers, creates jobs and works to ensure U.S. energy security. Lucas chided Obama for talking about a program, but offering no specifics or "new solutions." Lucas pointed out how energy-dependent agriculture and ag processing are, citing rising costs of machinery fuels, heating oil, fertilizer, petrochemicals and seed, as well as the energy cost of planting, harvesting, processing and transporting production. Lucas took a shot at the Administration's rejection of the Keystone Pipeline from Canada, as well as decisions to restrict energy exploration.

Nearly $20 million is available through USDA disaster assistance to communities ravaged by flooding, drought and other natural disasters, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced this week. The new monies come on the heels of $215 million already distributed to 26 states to assist in disaster recovery. The dollars are partnership money; USDA pays 75% of the cost of reconstruction while a local or state government pays the remaining 25%, Vilsack said. Projects include clearing clogged waterways, reseeding burned or eroded areas, and in some cases, purchasing floodplain easements on eligible land.

The Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Standards Board serves as a successful and important function of Cal/OSHA in the development of enforceable workplace safety regulations and therefore should not be eliminated, CalChamber Policy Advocate Marti Fisher told two budget subcommittees this week. 

Both the Senate and Assembly budget subcommittees voted to keep the Cal/OSHA Standards Board. An identical proposal was put forward in 2011, but was also rejected after strong opposition from the business and labor communities.

"We support the very important work of the Standards Board because they're an independent board," Fisher told the Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 4 on March 7. "Any regulations that come before them have to be fair and balanced, and they have to pass with labor and management at the table. They have created a very transparent and participatory processes so that anybody interested can participate and have the opportunity to be heard no matter which party is in the administration."

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CALIFORNIA STATE FLORAL ASSOCIATION TOGETHER WITH ROP CAMARILLO   

Present a Floral Design Workshop

New Date ~ April 28th 

Floral Architectonics: the Art of Incorporating Architectural Elements into Dynamic Floral Designs

Instruction by:  

Tony Alvarez AIFD, CCF & Debbie Alvarez AIFD, CCF

Place: ROP Camarillo, 465 Horizon Circle, Camarillo, CA 93010

Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

In this class we will explore a number of architectural elements developed since man first began building shelters right up to the modern age of towering steel structures and modern conceptual theories in architecture. We will integrate these architectural elements in our design constructions using assorted building materials, plant materials, flowers and branches as well as decorative wire and glassware.  

Come spend a day with friends and learn new ways to add interest, value, drama and innovation to everyday designs!

Class fee: $125.00

• Click here for full details   

(February 29, 2012) Two state entities are holding a series of public meetings across the state to gather comments about current workers' compensation issues from employers and other stakeholders.

The open forum discussions are planned by the state Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and the Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC). DIR and DWC also seek suggestions for improvements.

DIR Director Christine Baker and DWC Administrative Director Rosa Moran will be among the speakers at the meetings.

Topics of discussion will include:

• Providing appropriate medical treatment without unnecessary delay, the Medical Provider Network (MPN), Utilization Review (UR) or other issues.
• Enabling injured workers to return to work as quickly as medically feasible.
• Adequate compensation for permanent disabilities.
• Reducing the burden of liens on the system.
• Identifying appropriate fee schedules.
• Reducing unnecessary litigation costs.
• Assessing appropriate use of opiates and other care.
• Any other improvements needed.

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Faced with a looming March 31 expiration date, the House surrendered this week on voting on its own highway bill, despite the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee's approval of a five-year, $260-billion package. Instead, House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) signaled he will accept the Senate's version of the federal highway/urban commuter program spending package. Boehner had earlier given his GOP caucus a choice: Vote for a modified five-year House package many in the House oppose, or accept the Senate's $109-billion two-year bill. Budget hawks in the House oppose the committee-passed bill because it requires Treasury funding for at least a portion of the program rewrites, but leaders continue to try and fix the bill to make it politically palatable so the House can send its own version of the highway reauthorization bill to conference.  

One option was for the House to pass a short-term extension of current programs to allow itself the time to cut a deal. However, the Senate, having reached an agreement this week allowing 30 amendments to its highway package, and targeting March 13 for final passage, is unlikely to go along with the move. Among the amendments the Senate rejected this week was a series of changes aimed at curbing gas price increases; an amendment by Sen. Susan Collins (R, ME) to curb EPA regulatory authority on boiler emissions, and separate amendments to approve the Keystone pipeline and ban export of oil brought down from Canada via the pipeline. Pending is an amendment by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D, MI) to extend several energy tax breaks, including those for biodiesel.